^^ I can’t say that I would recommend this to anyone because every hide is different and may behave in many different ways, but I have tried this once in the past with a new 613SH. The jacket actually fit me pretty well, it was just very stiff. I could wear it with a hoodie and easily zip it up, but could hardly move because the hide was stiff. After wearing it for a week or so, I became impatient for the jacket to start feeling /looking like I wanted it to.
I soaked the jacket in cold water for about 20 minutes allowing it to become fully saturated. I then carefully removed it from the sink as the jacket was now VERY heavy and VERY malleable. I went through 6-8 bath towels removing as much excess moisture as possible. I laid the jacket on the floor in front of a box fan and used some of my daughter’s plastic toys in the sleeves and body to keep it “3D” so air could circulate through the jacket. After drying it for several hours, I wore it over a thicker sweater around the house, changing sweaters every hour or so because they were getting soaked. Let it dry “3D” on the floor overnight and wore it with a hoodie for several hours the next day. The hoodie was moist, but I could tell the jacket was finally starting to dry. I then pulled the pocket bags inside out and let it “3D” dry for two more days on the floor. When it was fully dry I conditioned it with some Urad. This process really loosened the jacket up as far as mobility, and improved the look in my opinion. Wearing a thicker hoodie was a breeze afterward. I had absolutely zero negative outcome from the experiment, but I considered myself lucky. I knew there was a chance I could ruin an expensive new jacket. Jacket once fully dry:
I soaked the jacket in cold water for about 20 minutes allowing it to become fully saturated. I then carefully removed it from the sink as the jacket was now VERY heavy and VERY malleable. I went through 6-8 bath towels removing as much excess moisture as possible. I laid the jacket on the floor in front of a box fan and used some of my daughter’s plastic toys in the sleeves and body to keep it “3D” so air could circulate through the jacket. After drying it for several hours, I wore it over a thicker sweater around the house, changing sweaters every hour or so because they were getting soaked. Let it dry “3D” on the floor overnight and wore it with a hoodie for several hours the next day. The hoodie was moist, but I could tell the jacket was finally starting to dry. I then pulled the pocket bags inside out and let it “3D” dry for two more days on the floor. When it was fully dry I conditioned it with some Urad. This process really loosened the jacket up as far as mobility, and improved the look in my opinion. Wearing a thicker hoodie was a breeze afterward. I had absolutely zero negative outcome from the experiment, but I considered myself lucky. I knew there was a chance I could ruin an expensive new jacket. Jacket once fully dry:
